tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19214094354366575692018-01-03T12:32:31.855-07:00talking to icedoes delivering ice in winter cause frostbite on the brain?Graham Icemannoreply@blogger.comBlogger126125TalkingToIcehttps://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-32857329327229808152018-01-03T12:32:00.001-07:002018-01-03T12:32:32.043-07:00McDavid, Draisailt are a big reason behind historicially bad Oilers penalty killNobody should mistake Draisailt or McDavid as hard nose, in your face hockey players.&nbsp; Skilled players in general are not wired that way and there is nothing wrong with that.&nbsp; 97 and 29 are on the Oilers to score goals or set up other people to score goals.&nbsp; Nobody is paying the money those two players get to dive in front of pucks, and get in opposing team's faces.&nbsp; The thing about penalty kill is you need those players who live and breath defense.&nbsp; They don't care about the glory of scoring goals or making a pretty pass.&nbsp; Players who succeed on the penalty kill live and die for the applause from the fans after two minutes of killing themselves to stop the other team's power play from scoring.&nbsp; It is the appreciation of the guy in the penalty box after a successful kill that means everything.&nbsp; The goalie who pats them on the back or the coach that says heck of a job after taking a slapshot to the gut that matters to the penalty killers.<br /><br />I know we all saw Gretzky and Messier on the PK back in the 80's and part of us thinks why not McDavid or Draisailt.&nbsp; The thing is with guys who breath offense there mind is always on scoring.&nbsp; It isn't on getting in front of shots.&nbsp; It isn't on keeping the box, instead it is the dreams of intercepting a pass, a bobbling puck getting past the dmen on the point leading to one of those beautiful short handed, McDavid drops the puck to Draisailt for a goal.&nbsp; The problem is when you have players whose minds wander to offensive glory they end up stretching the 4 man box out leading to those wonderful passing lanes for the opposing teams to make cross ice passes.&nbsp; Cross ice passes lead to goalies having to move horizontally in the crease opening up all sorts of good lanes to beat the goalie.&nbsp; A good defensive player, that makes his living preventing goals understands to prevent most high percentage scoring chances for the opposing team on the PK you have to collapse just as hard as you expand your box to take away the point shot.&nbsp; When the puck is passed from one defense to the other it is bust your ass back to position and not let that pass through the box happen.&nbsp; Nothing against McDavid or Draisailt but those two players are not wired to play that way.&nbsp; They want to attack not defend.&nbsp;<br /><br />You might point out that none of the other players the Oilers put out on PK are any better.&nbsp; Therein lies the problem.&nbsp; Neither McDavid or Draisailt are the types of players you want on a good PK.&nbsp; I believe half the reason they are out there so often is a lack of reliable talent behind them.&nbsp; Coach has no choice in putting them out there because Letestu and Kassian are not doing any better.&nbsp; You can only play the cards you have in sports and if you don't have the traditional, hardnose dive in front of pucks, bust your ass to get back in position penalty killers, then you play the best of a bad hand.&nbsp; Directly 29 and 97 are not doing well on PK.&nbsp; Coaching staff looks like they are out to lunch... but in reality indirectly it is the GM who bought out a useful penalty killer in Benoit Pouliot, and didn't replace heart and guts Matt Hendricks.&nbsp; The idea that those who play on the 4th line don't matter is an illusion in hockey.&nbsp; They matter because they do the things nobody else on the team is willing to do.&nbsp; &nbsp;The bottom half of the line is there to be the grit, the grunts, the we will hurt so the stars can focus on scoring goals more then preventing them.&nbsp; Good teams have players that are willing to sacrifice there bodies, for the greater good of the team.&nbsp; I just don't see those players on the Oilers.<br /><br />one more point... Just from a pure energy standpoint... there is nothing harder than stopping and starting on the PK.&nbsp; That two minutes would equate to 30-60 second bag skates.&nbsp; &nbsp;That energy for McDavid or Draisailt is not being used scoring goals, it is used preventing goals.&nbsp; In every team sport the best offensive talent are rarely defensive stoppers.&nbsp; It isn't because they can't play defense.&nbsp; It is playing defense the way it needs to be played often takes away all your energy, leaving little for offense.&nbsp; That is why when making up a team there is often a line that coaches use against the other teams best players, and on the PK.&nbsp; They kill themselves so 29 and 97 can make fans scream in joy after another goal or 20.&nbsp;<br /><br />My two cents.. why do you think the Oilers PK is struggling?<br /><br />They call me the iceman and if you need ice in Edmonton, AB I am your man.<br /><br />Master Iceman<br /><br /><br /><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/7SMLffYDKbY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2018/01/mcdavid-draisailt-are-big-reason-behind.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-30827579970990372532017-10-21T13:51:00.001-06:002017-10-21T13:53:34.408-06:0011:00 AM start time to Oilers, Flyers game, what was the NHL thinking.Games that start in the AM are all mental as athlete's bodies are creatures of habits.&nbsp; Playing at 1:00 am eastern time is likely around the time guys are use to relaxing, not firing on all cylinders.&nbsp; When do you eat your pregame meal.&nbsp; I have always felt older teams with more experience do better at the early games just because age teaches players how to mentally will themselves to compete when the body wants to sleep.<br /><div><br /></div><div>5 observations in Oilers 2-1 loss to the Flyers.</div><div><br /></div><div>1.&nbsp; I bet the analytics of giving up the first goal and winning are not very good.&nbsp; The Oilers have to do a better job at start of the game.&nbsp; They cannot continue to give up the first goal and hope to have success.&nbsp; Based on the fact they suck at the PK that means not taking penalties.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>2.&nbsp; By not developing a shot McDavid is like a pass first point guard in the NBA.&nbsp; You just play off the guy, keep him in front of you, take away passing lanes and dare him to shoot.&nbsp; &nbsp;McDavid is no different.&nbsp; His wrist shot is so slow.&nbsp; He puts his weight on stick, twists body, goalie has a smoke and then he shoots. No slap or snap shot to speak of.&nbsp; Any competent NHL goalie if he sees McDavid shoot is going to stop his shot.&nbsp; For all of McDavid's greatness you just have to stop the breakaways and clog up passing lanes to really limit his ability.&nbsp; I say limit because you can't stop great players, you can just limit them.&nbsp; What also limits McDavid is he loses so many of his faceoffs.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>3.&nbsp; Lucic, an older player was a force in this game.&nbsp; Strong game on the puck.&nbsp; Make that man an ice man because when you hit him it is like running into a wall of ice.&nbsp; I love watching Flyers bounce off him.&nbsp; So strong on the boards.&nbsp; Didn't show up on score sheet but nobody on his line did.&nbsp; Strome was missing in action and RNH played way too much on the outside.&nbsp; Never was able to get the puck into good scoring areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>4.&nbsp; Some like to point out how Oilers keep winning shot metrics which I believe is a fancy way of saying Oilers out shoot the opposing team.&nbsp; This may be the case but it sure doesn't seem like there are a lot of hard saves being made by the opposing goalies.&nbsp; What Oiler has a good shot?&nbsp; Other than injured Draisaitl I can't think of one Oiler with a shot that keeps goalies awake at night.&nbsp; I also don't see enough passes leading to shots when opposing goalie is moving and not set.&nbsp; It seem like the team is doing the whole Jordan Eberle, dust the puck off and shoot the puck giving goalies chance to get square to the shooter.&nbsp; With the size of goalies these days I just don't see how you are going to score unless the goalie is moving, not set.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>5.&nbsp; Adam Larsson brought the ice tonight.&nbsp; He seems to have found his game.&nbsp; You can see him getting in better position, making some real solid hits.&nbsp; I think at the start of the season he had to adjust to the new ways they were calling the rules but now has seemed to settle in back the really strong physical player we have come to love in Edmonton.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Disappointing loss.&nbsp; Team definitely has to figure itself out without Draisailt in lineup.&nbsp; Looks very slow on ice.&nbsp; Thoughts?&nbsp; Leave a comment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Master Iceman</div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/1m9SCplyBlc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/10/1100-am-start-time-to-oilers-flyers.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-1260799161035946802017-10-20T18:28:00.003-06:002017-10-20T18:28:49.930-06:00McDavid is not Gretzky and that is perfectly OK.I don't even remember Gretzky all that well anymore.&nbsp; You'd think I would watch youtube videos or the bio videos of 99 I bought but it hurts too much to watch knowing I will never see Gretzky play hockey like he did through the eyes of a child when I say him last play.&nbsp; What is the same is wanting more than anything to be able to turn on the TV and being able to watch both play.&nbsp; &nbsp;The McDavid spin doopsey doodle to Maroon a fire hydrant on skates, smart enough to put his stick on the ice and score, is why McDavid is must see, don't call for ice or you will be blackballed for not watching Oilers hockey, TV!<br /><br />5 observations in Oilers 2-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks.<br /><br />1.&nbsp; Maroon scores so as I like to say to summer student workers you are not completely useless and if you want to get paid be the fire hydrant.&nbsp; Being strong on your stick, in the right places is all you need to really do with McDavid.&nbsp; Get out of his way, when he doesn't have the puck, get him the puck and make yourself open in a good scoring spot ready to receive the puck.&nbsp; It is as easy and hard as that.&nbsp; I still won't like Maroon's game until he reaches out and punches someone.&nbsp;<br /><br />2.&nbsp; Oilers were a 100 point and then some team last year because of Talbot just as much as McDavid. Talbot has to be better than the other goalie for the Oilers to win.&nbsp; A good goalie will steal wins when the rest of the team is out of sync.&nbsp; If Talbot isn't playing well you can't sit him at the start of the year.&nbsp; You ride him until he works his way out of the flaws in his game because if Talbot isn't one of the top goalies in the league the Oilers are not winning any cups.&nbsp;<br /><br />3.&nbsp; I didn't mind when Kassian hit the Chicago player from behind.&nbsp; It isn't my favorite type of hit but for Kassian he has to toe the line between being a bring the ice type player and a dirty one.&nbsp; Intimidation is one of the most underrated skill sets in sports as it can't really be quantified with analytics.&nbsp; In my experience fear of an opposing player changes how you play the game.&nbsp; Kassian is one of those guys with crazy eyes who you just don't know if he will lose his mind on the ice.&nbsp; There is value to that type of player.&nbsp; The rub is upon occasion Kassian pulls a Kassian and plants an opposing player face first into boards.&nbsp; It is the type of hit you don't want to see, but you live with as in the larger picture it puts fear into the opposing team.&nbsp;<br /><br />4.&nbsp; I really liked the fourth line of Pakarinen, Malone and Kassian.&nbsp; I felt like they brought a level of grit that teams are going to have trouble handling.&nbsp; Malone is good in front of the net, Pakarinen has speed to burn and Kassian is well Kassian, a beast with a mean streak bringing the ice to most games.&nbsp; They are the type of line that will hurt to play against.&nbsp; Perfect for a fourth line needed to&nbsp; change the energy of a game with a big hit or a strong cycle game in the opposing zone.&nbsp;<br /><br />5.&nbsp; Ryan Strome is a really solid player 5 feat from the net.&nbsp; He doesn't skate real well.&nbsp; Isn't going to out physical anyone but has really nice hands close to the net.&nbsp; When you combine him with Lucic and RNH there is something there.&nbsp; I hope McLellan gives them a few games to continue to gel.<br /><br /><br />What did you see? Don't be shy.&nbsp; Leave a comment. Will Yamamoto last more than 9 games?&nbsp; &nbsp;<br /><br />Until tomorrow... Stay COOL :)<br /><br />Master Iceman<div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/JQTOqhoVpWE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/10/mcdavid-is-not-gretzky-and-that-is.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-1380917842245262942017-10-17T21:37:00.001-06:002017-10-17T21:45:21.239-06:00Oilers losing ways and inept coaching are leading me to drink.<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I cringe every time the Oilers play Carolina Hurricanes.&nbsp; I don't know much about systems or style of play except to say the hockey isn't pleasing to watch when Hurricanes are in town.&nbsp; End to end rushes rarely happen, pretty hockey becomes a distant memory and games are painful to watch.&nbsp; Generally speaking Oilers aren't always the best at winning ugly, gritty, you know it is going to hurt hockey.&nbsp; Tonight was no different.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">5 observations In Oilers too little too late 5-3 loss to Hurricanes.</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">1.&nbsp; Bad pinch leads to goal.&nbsp; Too many men penalty.&nbsp; Undisciplined play by Maroon leads to penalty.&nbsp; Bottom line team not ready to play.&nbsp; That is on McLellan.&nbsp; Coach needs to do more to get his team ready to play.&nbsp; Much easier to get a new coach than make a trade of consequence in a salary cap world.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">2.&nbsp; Why Brossoit starting when Oilers season depends on Talbot finding his game?&nbsp; You have lost 3 in row and instead of giving your starting goalie who was awesome last year the opportunity to find his game you play the backup.&nbsp; If I am Talbot I am pissed and want to the net.&nbsp; Playing bad, getting yanked is keeping me up at night.&nbsp; I need to the net to get the stink of losing and sucking out of my head.&nbsp; What the Oilers were missing tonight was the big save as exemplified by the 4th and 5th Carolina goals when team was making a comeback.&nbsp; Grant Fuhr makes those saves.&nbsp; Talbot makes those saves last year.&nbsp; Brossoit barely an NHL goalie does not make those saves.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">3.&nbsp; If the Oilers insist on having defensive dman on the second unit power play why not have Nurse instead of Russell.&nbsp; We all know what Russell is as a defenseman.&nbsp; He isn't going to suddenly develop offensive flair this late in his career whereas Nurse is relatively unknown as an offensive talent.&nbsp; Neither has a shot but Nurse still has time to develop one.&nbsp; With Sekara and Benning out give Nurse a chance to see if he can develop a little.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">4.&nbsp; Maroon should be barred from shaving until he gets into a fight.&nbsp; I just do not like his game.&nbsp; He got played on the first penalty.&nbsp; I remember having the same thing happen to me when I played college ball.&nbsp; Some yahoo gave me a shot, ref missed so I returned favor and ref called foul of me.&nbsp; Last year he was fighting anyone he could.&nbsp; In your face, gritty hockey.&nbsp; Setting tone with soft hands and raging fists.&nbsp; This year he is an invisible man.&nbsp; No power forward should ever be clean shaven.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">5.&nbsp; I like simplifying Ryan Strome's game.&nbsp; Let him focus on a few small things, go to the net, tip a puck like he did and bam you have a goal.&nbsp; &nbsp;Same with Lucic, hit, work hard and shoot the puck. So important for secondary scoring to take pressure off Oilers top line.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I am depressed.&nbsp; Drank half a bottle of my bosses whisky that he left in my vehicle.&nbsp; Cheer me up, what positives did you observe in this game?</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Stay Cool,</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Master Iceman</span><br /><br /><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=bqrHv7PsJbI:SvHuLt5PVDo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=bqrHv7PsJbI:SvHuLt5PVDo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?i=bqrHv7PsJbI:SvHuLt5PVDo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=bqrHv7PsJbI:SvHuLt5PVDo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/bqrHv7PsJbI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/10/oilers-losing-ways-and-inept-coaching.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-31636095069911687982017-10-14T22:18:00.002-06:002017-10-14T22:18:48.540-06:00This is torture, Oilers get embarrassed by SenatorsNothing cleans the ears of an athlete out like losing.&nbsp; A good playoff performance, Vegas odds makers saying Stanley Cup favorites and a good old fashion ass stomping of the hated Calgary Flames on opening night made the Oilers as deaf as an iceman working next to ice makers in the middle of the busy season.&nbsp; When I say deaf I mean to what the coach is preaching.&nbsp; Hard work, making the right plays, paying the price needed to win.&nbsp; Losing to Canucks and Jets, back to back, better than Chinese candles to clearing up all that positive press clippings buzz getting in the way of what McLellan, the Oilers coach must of been preaching about how hard winning is... in theory that is...&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>5 Observations in Oilers loss to the Ottawa Senators&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>1.&nbsp; Maroon Mr Invisible,&nbsp; needs to get into a fight since he isn't scoring.&nbsp; Like I always say, when notating else is working reach out and punch someone.&nbsp; At least if he fights he can do something with the hands that seem to have lost the magic they had the year before.&nbsp; I love Big Rig but whatever scoring touch he had last year is gone.&nbsp; It is time for him to get off McDavid's line and have to earn his way back on it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>2.&nbsp; Do the Oilers have any shooters?&nbsp; None of the defense have a shot that keeps goalies up at night which is a problem considering opposing teams just collapse down to handle the cycle down low.&nbsp; The Oilers d could take a 100 shots and not score once.&nbsp; None of the forwards or centers minus Draisailt who was out against the Senators have a shot of note.&nbsp; They get the puck, gather for a wrist shot giving the goalie time to adjust and get ready.&nbsp; Oilers have lots of greater passers but no shooters.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>3.&nbsp; Talbot is not making the big save.&nbsp; If opposing teams get a good look on Talbot they score.&nbsp; He isn't in the zone, looks depressed in the net.&nbsp; Someone needs to get him a shrink or a detective to find his confidence.&nbsp; It has gone missing.</div><div><br /></div><div>4.&nbsp; I bet Darnell Nurse can bench press a lot.&nbsp; He seems to bench press opposing players into the boards with reckless abandon.&nbsp; If only he had a shot.&nbsp; His offensive skillset is brutal.&nbsp; Just brutal.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>5.&nbsp; Yamamoto looks like an NHL player.&nbsp; The passivity I saw in the first two games has disappeared where it looks like he is just learning to play hockey.&nbsp; It don't matter if it is in the WHL or NHL, the game is still the same.&nbsp; Get your nose dirty, go hard to the net and don't be afraid to fail.&nbsp; I'd like to see him find some open spots in the slot to get a good shot.&nbsp; Still think he would do with another year in Junior but there is a player there.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Pretty depressing game for an Oilers addict like myself.&nbsp; What did you see?&nbsp; Wife said watching the game was torture. I had to turn it off at 6-0.&nbsp; Wife begged me to stop watching it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Master Iceman</div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/fGQgzi088pw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/10/this-is-torture-oilers-get-embarrassed.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-58364326360128124442017-10-09T22:24:00.003-06:002017-10-09T22:24:57.162-06:00Oilers play cute and lose to Winnipeg Jets.Khaira is one of my favorite players when he doesn't don the cloak of invisibility. &nbsp;He is the type of player that needs to reach out and hit or punch someone regularly. &nbsp;In Vancouver you could of put him on a milk carton as he was missing in action which is why against a big bruising team like Winnipeg he is not playing. &nbsp;Here is hoping Khaira learns to bring the ice soon! <br /><br />5 observations in Edmonton Oilers 5-2 loss to Winnipeg Jets<br /><br />1. &nbsp;Cute hockey scores goals but does not win hockey games. &nbsp;Sure McDavid swooping in like a bird of prey on&nbsp;Josh Morrissey, taking the puck and feeding Draisailt for the GOAL looks great but for every cute play that worked the last two games, there was a half dozen that didn't work. &nbsp;Finally Mcllelan broke up 97 and 29 ending cute hockey. &nbsp;It was too late for this game but it sure woke the team up to the style of hockey needed to win in this league. &nbsp;Hard skating, hit, go to the net hockey. &nbsp;First time Draisailt looked awake. &nbsp;Pay the man a fortune, it is about time Mcllelan gave him his own line. &nbsp;Maybe next time Draisailt will get some better players on his wing. <br /><br />2. &nbsp;Yamamoto actually made an appearance. &nbsp;In the first half of the game he was competing for the invisible man award but as soon as I wrote him off he got a shot, threw a hit and actually asserted himself into the game. &nbsp;Sure Yam wasn't great, didn't score a goal and took a penalty at the end but there was promise, a hint of something more.<br /><br />3. &nbsp;Am I wrong about Darnell Nurse and his offensive upside??? That pass he made to RNH, leading him perfectly on a breakaway for a goal was a thing of beauty. &nbsp;Defensively Nurse's foot speed, ability to stop, start and change directions is AWESOME. &nbsp;Nobody is beating that man on a change of direction. &nbsp;On offense Nurse still lacks a shot that would scare a WHL goal let alone an NHL one. &nbsp;Most times he seems uncertain with what to do with the puck but then he makes a pass to RNH leaving me wonder. &nbsp;How about you?<br /><br />4. &nbsp;Lucic isn't scoring goals. &nbsp;Isn't even a threat to score based on where he gets the puck, but the man is a bowling ball with anyone in his way a bulling pin. &nbsp;You could teach a Newtonian physics class on watching that man. &nbsp;Lucic gets the bringing the ice award in this game because anyone he pummeled is going to need ice, lots of it. &nbsp;If you need ice in Edmonton, Alberta, think Columbia Ice. <br /><br />5. &nbsp;Tipping pucks is a lost art in the NHL. &nbsp;Nobody is getting very good shots these days, at least on the Oilers with many coming from the blue line. &nbsp;What is needed is someone with good hands who can tip pucks and get the dirty Ryan Smyth type player goals. &nbsp;I haven't seen&nbsp;Thomas Vanek play much except for the nice tip of the puck he made last game against Oilers but that is exactly what is need. &nbsp;Oilers just don't have anyone with a rifle of a shot to score from afar so the only option is a change of direction or rebound garbage goals. &nbsp;The type of goals Maroon was scoring last year. &nbsp;Maroon against Winnipeg gets the invisible player of the game award. <br /><br />How about you? &nbsp;What did you observe watching Oilers get their butts handed to them by the Jets? &nbsp;Leave a comment here or on twitter. &nbsp;<a href="http://twitter.com/ernieiceman" target="_blank">@ernieiceman</a><br /><br />Until next time, STAY COOL!<br /><br />Master Iceman<div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/h08wlcqpvNI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/10/oilers-play-cute-and-lose-to-winnipeg.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-15893168564468402612017-10-08T08:41:00.002-06:002017-10-08T08:41:57.175-06:00Oilers bully local bar owner and then get bullied by the Vancouver Canucks<br /><br /><br />Must be Karma. &nbsp;Sick your lawyers on a local bar owner who wants to promote Oilers and still serve craft beer from local Alberta breweries, you get your ass handed to you by the so called worst team in the NHL if preseason prognosticators are too be believed &nbsp;<a href="http://when%20you%20involve%20lawyers%20as%20a%20hockey%20team%20to%20stop%20an%20edmonton%20pub%20from%20from%20running%20an%20oilers%20special%20you%20are%20a%20bully.%20%20that%20is%20what%20edmonton%20oilers%2C%20the%20local%20hockey%20team%20which%20took%20taxpayer%20money%20to%20build%20it%27s%20new%20hockey%20arena%20did.%20the%20part%20that%20bothers%20me%20the%20most%20is%20the%20fact%20they%20are%20trying%20to%20get%20the%20bar%20owner%20to%20use%20molson%20beer%20instead%20of%20the%20craft%20beer%20arcadia%20wants%20to%20sell.%20%20it%20is%20bad%20enough%20the%20oilers%20mislead%20consumers%20with%20their%20so%20called%20craft%20beer%20which%20isn%27t%20really%20craft%20beer%20selection%20at%20games%20but%20trying%20to%20strong%20arm%20a%20bar%20owner%20who%20supports%20local%20alberta%20breweries%20into%20being%20a%20molson%20dime%20a%20dozen%20pub%20makes%20you%20realize%20how%20little%20these%20hockey%20teams%20really%20care%20about%20the%20local%20community.%20%20in%20alberta%20we%20take%20great%20pride%20in%20our%20craft%20beer/%20local%20brewery%20industry%20and%20when%20it%20comes%20to%20sports%20teams%20who%20ask%20and%20then%20get%20public%20money%20I%20believe%20many%20of%20us%20wish%20these%20teams%20would%20do%20more%20to%20support%20the%20uniquely%20Alberta%20products%20instead%20of%20selling%20their%20soul%20to%20the%20highest%20bidder." target="_blank">Click here to read story.</a><br /><br />5 Observations: Oilers at Canucks Canucks win 3-2<br /><br />1. &nbsp;Even though Matt Benning was a pylon on the first Bo Horvat goal he had learned his lesson by the 3rd period when Horvat tried to go around Benning again only to be pushed behind the net. &nbsp;For a small dman Benning can't let up for even a second. &nbsp;The first goal of the game should never of happened had Benning been on his toes and been more physical with Horvat. &nbsp;Saving grace in sports is learning from your mistakes and the young dman did just that. <br /><br />2. &nbsp;Just as Anaheim Ducks slowed down McDavid by being physical, taking away time and space so did the Vancouver Canucks. &nbsp;It might of been McDavid's worst game as an Oiler as he never seemed to be able to get the puck moving with speed. &nbsp;The end to end rushes that made all the highlights in game one against the Flames never materialized against the well coached Canucks. &nbsp;Instead 97 was hit, bumped, smothered and harassed all night by a Canucks team that forgot McJesus was the chosen one. &nbsp;It was extremely impressive and disappointing as &nbsp;McDavid had no answer. &nbsp;There was one play on the powerplay where his only option was to dump the puck deep and instead he tried to pass the puck through two Vancouver defenders across the blue line leading to a break away. &nbsp;McDavid needed to be mentalily stronger, often displaying some of the frustration Crosby use to show when other teams would get physical with him. &nbsp;Too often this game McDavid would get into tit for tat moments with that no name, never heart of before Vancouver player who made 97 a generational talent look quite ordinary. <br /><br />3. &nbsp;Todd McLellan is the reason the Oilers lost this game. &nbsp;His insistence of playing Draisaitl and McDavid together makes the team easy to play against. &nbsp;All you need to do is create one line capable of skating with 97 and 29 who have a physical flavor to their game and like magic you can greatly hinder the top scoring tandem in the NHL from scoring. &nbsp;Vancouver did a tremendous job but McLellan made it easy by not splitting up the 97 and 29 up. &nbsp;It makes me wonder if McLellan is trading short term reward for long term success. <br /><br />4. &nbsp;RNH still has trouble getting into good scoring areas. &nbsp;His release is slow but I really liked his tenacity against the Canucks. &nbsp;RNH, Lucic and Kassian was a handful for the Canucks and often the ice was tilted in the right direction according to the eye test last night. &nbsp;I really liked Kassian on that line. &nbsp;His speed and bumper car mentality means ice for opposing dmen which you know as an iceman I love. &nbsp;Bring the ice baby should be Kassian's motto. &nbsp;The downside to splitting up the 97, 29 line would be losing the chemistry RNH, Lucic and Kassian has. <br /><br />5. &nbsp;Oiler defense should get numerous opportunities to fire bombs from their perches on the blue line. Teams are compressing down to take away anything in front of the net to deal with Oilers dominate forward pairings. &nbsp;This is leaving the defense at the top with open shots if they take them. &nbsp;The rub is those same forwards need to become more proficient at tipping those shots from the point. &nbsp;McDavid said he wanted to score goals in different ways and this is one way that can happen. &nbsp;Pass to the point, low shot, tip of the stick into the top corners or through the goalies legs as the goalie opens up to stop the original shot.<br /><br />What things did you see or observe in the game?<br /><br />Stay Cool,<br /><br />Master Iceman<div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/jWA8xXQPZDI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/10/oilers-bully-local-bar-owner-and-then.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-4016434323241010782017-10-05T18:51:00.000-06:002017-10-05T18:51:04.843-06:00How many goals does bad ice cost McDavid?I have said all there is to say about bagged ice. &nbsp;If you need ice in Edmonton, Alberta then call 780-960-7161. &nbsp;Ernie will be happy to take your order and I will deliver it. &nbsp;I have decided to use this pseudo company blog to write about something much more interesting, people on ice as in the Edmonton Oilers. &nbsp;Every game I am going to share 5 observations and hopefully you can share a few of your own or tell me how out to lunch I am. <br /><br />Calgary at Edmonton October 4th 3-0 win for Edmonton<br /><br />1. &nbsp;How many goals does bad ice cost Connor McDavid? &nbsp;Rogers Place is not known for having good ice. &nbsp;On the first partial break away it looked like McDavid was trying to get the puck over the Calgary goal stopper but the puck didn't pop off his stick. &nbsp;After scoring the second of his 3 goals McDavid had another break away where he looked to want to pull the puck from the left to right only to lose the puck. &nbsp;I don't know if the ice factored into McDavid not being able to raise the puck over the pad of the flames goalie or do a left to right pull around but the puck bounces and rolls enough on the ice at Rogers to make me wonder. &nbsp;For a guy with his speed and puck handling skills having good ice is a must. &nbsp;Bad ice limits what McDavid can do. &nbsp;The question I have and I hope the ice makers at Rogers have is how many goals does bad ice cost the Oilers? &nbsp;When you have the skill the Oilers do good ice is a must.<br /><br />2. &nbsp;Yamamoto is ready for the WHL not the NHL. &nbsp;I will give the kid props for being smart on the ice but he can't seem to be able to hold onto the puck long enough to do anything other than touch passes. Yam needs more experience to be able to use his agility to give him the time and space to be able to hold off bigger players long enough to do something meaningful with the puck. <br /><br />3. &nbsp;...and I thought Eberle would get the Oilers a top pairing dman. &nbsp;Strome is a big, slow forward who can play center with good hands, not much physicality. &nbsp;A soft Maroon who can play center. &nbsp;If Strome is the best Ebs could get then I can understand why Larsson cost Oilers Hall. <br /><br />4. &nbsp;Darnell Nurse is just a bigger version of Chris Russell. &nbsp;Nurse does not have the natural offensive instincts or nasty to be a top pairing dman. &nbsp;Nurse like Russell can skate well but like Russell isn't always so sure what to do with the puck when Nurse has it on his stick. &nbsp;Russell pound for pound is a better hitter. &nbsp;Nurse might be bigger and stronger but he doesn't know how to deliver those body crunching open ice hits. &nbsp;His money skill is good position and foot speed.<br /><br />5. &nbsp;Night and day the level of organization on the ice between this year's Oilers and the last 10 years. &nbsp;It was like watching a well coached team play the Oilers in the past except this time the well coached team was the Oilers. &nbsp;There wasn't any offense to be had by Calgary. &nbsp;Oilers weren't out of position, chasing pucks, leaving people open in good scoring positions. <br /><br />Good start to the season.. what did you see? <br /><br />Master Iceman<div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/h-_SgHFpbZc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com1http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/10/how-many-goals-does-bad-ice-cost-mcdavid.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-49221160813374605022017-05-06T11:57:00.000-06:002017-05-06T11:57:15.343-06:00Stop blaming refs for Oilers losing to the DucksI remember back in the day when I was playing basketball, we got beat down by 30 points and a guy on my team tried to blame the refs. &nbsp;My response was refs don't cause a team to lose by 30 points. &nbsp;In hockey the games are much closer, however the principle is the same you don't blame a ref for wins and loses. &nbsp;That is what losers do. &nbsp;They cry, look everywhere else for blame instead of looking in the mirror when trying to find blame for a lose. &nbsp;If refereeing is an issue never let the game get into a situation where one or two calls by a ref can determine the outcome. <br /><br />In reference to the last two games the Oilers played against the Ducks, the Oilers they lost because they stopped doing what made them successful after getting a 2-0 lead in game 4 and a 3-0 lead in game 5. &nbsp;Instead of continuing to attack, realizing the team they were playing had a tendency to go on dominating runs when faced with a defensive, lets not lose style, the Oilers sat back and dared the ducks to comeback. &nbsp;Of course, as is the pattern of the Oilers during the mad comeback the ref was put in a position to have a direct effect on the game. &nbsp;Sure it is easy to say goalie interference but man you are playing with fire allowing the other team to have puck and players in close like that, hoping a ref will save the Oiler's bacon. <br /><br />Both Oiler games 4 and 5 against the Ducks was PREDICTABLE. &nbsp;You knew the Oilers were going to sit back thinking 2 or 3 goals was enough to win. &nbsp;If this was the 80's the desire of 99 and friends to embarrass would of prevented either outcome. &nbsp;99 unlike 97 didn't just want to win, Gretzky wanted to win pulling away. &nbsp;It was an obsession to score as many goals as possible for those teams back in the glory years. &nbsp;McDavid, Draisailt and friends seem happy getting a couple of goals and then hoping for time to run out. &nbsp;They play with fire as hockey games are not usually won by playing less than a full game. &nbsp;In Game 4 the Oilers thought they won after the first 20 minutes and in game 5 the Oilers thought they won after 40 minutes. <br /><br />Stop crying about referees. &nbsp;Stop looking for external reasons why the Oilers lose. &nbsp;Winning and losing starts and ends with the players and coaches in the Oiler locker room. &nbsp;Don't go hoping to hold on to a lead to a win. Play like you need the next goal, want the next goal, become obsessed about extending the lead. &nbsp;Play desperate hockey at all times regardless of the score as if a goal is like crack to a crack addict and you can't live without the roar of the crowd that only comes with lighting the red light behind the net. <br /><br />Master Iceman<div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/_-DYAVEUuSw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/05/stop-blaming-refs-for-oilers-losing-to.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-44511087373080781332017-03-18T12:32:00.002-06:002017-03-20T09:43:12.549-06:00Breaking a bully's nose was a defining moment in my lifeI was always a shy kid. &nbsp;I let people push me around. &nbsp;Didn't really fight back as I was always consumed with fear of life and people. &nbsp;Vince was his name, he had spiked hair, glasses and big arms for a guy in grade 9. &nbsp;The school I was at had a policy that you got suspended 5 days for fighting and anyone who watched a fight got suspended for a day. &nbsp;The principle wouldn't break up a fight, instead he would video tape the people at the fight. &nbsp;Needless to say in our school there was not many fisticuffs. <br /><br />I don't know what snapped inside me that I decided to challenge Vince to a fight behind the hockey rink. &nbsp;As soon as I did the kids who enjoyed a good fight became cheerleaders walking us to the area away from the school. &nbsp;Vince cam at me smiling, went to push me and that is when I fed his face a left, a left, a left, he bent over and then I kicked Vince in the face. &nbsp;Fight was over, Vince was down for the count and I was told by the crowd of more experienced fighters to take off. <br /><br />Even though I called Vince later that night to make sure he was ok breaking that kids nose was one of the defining moments of my life. &nbsp;I finally took a step outside of my shell of shyness and stood up for myself. &nbsp;It was no ok that Vince bullied me and by breaking Vince's nose I was saying with a fist it stops now. <br /><br />The interesting thing is 20 years later in our pink shirt anti-bullying world is I would of been told what I did was wrong. &nbsp;I should of told an adult who would... I don't even know what an adult could do expect morph me into a bigger target as being a rat just encouraged more bullying. &nbsp;Sometimes being a human is having to take matters into your own hands and stand up for yourself. &nbsp;It wasn't an adult saying it was not ok to bully me. &nbsp;I said with force it was not ok to bully me. <br /><br />No I am not saying force is the answer. &nbsp;I don't have answers. &nbsp;It just is interesting how what was the right choice for me 20 years ago likely isn't the right choice for young people today. &nbsp;When I grew up you punched the bully in the nose. &nbsp;Respect was earned and then everyone went on with their lives. &nbsp;Today... I don't know how respect is earned by telling an adult. <br /><br />The Master Iceman<div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=4_iErkM_pvQ:vEB7tqcEUC8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=4_iErkM_pvQ:vEB7tqcEUC8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?i=4_iErkM_pvQ:vEB7tqcEUC8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=4_iErkM_pvQ:vEB7tqcEUC8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/4_iErkM_pvQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/03/breaking-bullies-nose-was-defining.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-34485193020797828172017-03-03T10:47:00.001-07:002017-03-03T10:47:20.010-07:00I miss you Phil Allen, you were a heck of a coach, an even better man.It is always shocking to hear someone you knew passed away. &nbsp;I hadn't thought about Phil Allen for years until the other day on twitter I noticed they had a Phil Allen Memorial award. &nbsp;I didn't know how much Phil had affected my life till I read that. &nbsp;For those that don't know Phil he was a heck of a basketball coach, father and promoter of sports in Alberta working on SAIT, Grant MacEwan, and Lakeland College. &nbsp;His passion was unmatched and dedication to building quality basketball programs which with along with winners produced good men. <br /><br />Frankly Phil was a hardass as a coach. &nbsp;The type you want to play for but better be ready to play for. &nbsp;On and off the court he took every aspect of running a good basketball program serious. &nbsp;His players actually were expected to do homework, attend classes and act like university students. &nbsp;You might of started out as an immature young man playing for Phil but you came away a young adult when you left his program. <br /><br />The thing I liked about Phil the most was even the times when his passion for the sport got the best of him and it had negative consequences Phil never let it stop him. &nbsp;He learned from his mistakes and used them to become a better man. &nbsp;In life nobody or nothing is perfect. &nbsp;Good people slip and fall. &nbsp;The difference with Phil is he picked him self up with vengeance. &nbsp;It made Phil a lot more relatable to me knowing he had gone through some tough times in his basketball journey and used those to push himself to be better. &nbsp;For a young man, like I was when I knew Phil that was a worthy example how in life you have to keep on fight and battling. Mistakes will happen but you can't let those mistakes define you.<br /><br />To sum up what kind of man Phil was... I was coaching a summers league to which Phil was the head of. &nbsp;He actually lead the charge to get coaches like myself paid a little. &nbsp;Not a lot but a little. &nbsp;Any time I had a question, even if it meant calling Phil a half dozen times in an evening he was always patient, positive and supportive. <br /><br />Phil you were a good man. &nbsp;I will miss you. &nbsp;I admired you a lot and the lessons you taught me in the brief time I knew you I took with me along my journey in life. <br /><br />Master Iceman<div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/oMSh25My9Tk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/03/i-miss-you-phil-allen-you-were-heck-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-78042297592958002552017-03-01T11:32:00.002-07:002017-03-01T11:32:22.574-07:00Update on erniebcools the ATB BoostR crowdsourced shaved ice cart.I am in the process of getting the final paperwork done on a 7x14 foot trailer. &nbsp;Going the trailer route instead of traditional concession cart as I would need a trailer to haul the cart around. &nbsp;I wish this process had been faster but like anything else in this world paperwork takes time. &nbsp;I am having to lease to buy a trailer as buying one outright means having the money upfront. <br /><br />As for the shaved ice machine and supplies I honestly want to cry when I think about it. &nbsp;I have two creditcards empty, ready to spend 5000.00 on a shaved ice machine and supplies but so far trying to find a shaved ice company who wants my money has been painful. &nbsp;I should of known from my past dealings with American companies that it would be difficult for them to find Canada on a map let alone actually sell stuff to a Canadian. &nbsp;Awhile back I went to Kansas, was checking into a hotel and the lady asked me if Canada was in the District of Columbia. &nbsp;I said yes because in her mind the only thing surrounding the US was mexico and then the earth ended. &nbsp;I have inquired multiple places, asked for a quote and am still waiting. &nbsp;Going to try again. &nbsp;It shouldn't be rocket science but apparently selling something you sell to someone with money to buy what you are selling is difficult for Americans. <br /><br />My problem is likely that I expect people to email in a timely fashion which 3 weeks is not. <div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=rp2h1hBKn1U:A_Gzmx9bjI8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=rp2h1hBKn1U:A_Gzmx9bjI8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?i=rp2h1hBKn1U:A_Gzmx9bjI8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=rp2h1hBKn1U:A_Gzmx9bjI8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/rp2h1hBKn1U" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com1http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/03/update-on-erniebcools-atb-boostr.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-37234108201380022882017-02-09T10:16:00.000-07:002017-02-14T20:30:49.563-07:00There is only one ice company that can wear the Alberta crest!I have gotten over the fact that for the past five years American owned Arctic Glacier has <b>misrepresented Polar Ice</b>, a company it bought years ago as <b>Alberta owned</b>. &nbsp;If American owned Arctic Glacier owns a company in Canada such Polar Ice, Polar Ice is American owned. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G781S1Kgnjs/WJt-OJu8ZVI/AAAAAAAAOcU/vIF8piidFPAvjnkLq48X64We-ydlmjtKACLcB/s1600/liar-liar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G781S1Kgnjs/WJt-OJu8ZVI/AAAAAAAAOcU/vIF8piidFPAvjnkLq48X64We-ydlmjtKACLcB/s400/liar-liar.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Polar ice is NOT Alberta owned!</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Sure it made me angry because being Alberta owned is our big marketing feature at Columbia Ice. &nbsp;It is all the small Alberta business has going for it when competing against big, faceless American owned corporations. &nbsp;You might think it would be illegal to mislead consumers about the location of the owners but our competition bureau is useless. &nbsp;Rules are just words without enforcement. &nbsp;I wrote a blog post, got angry and then got over it as there isn't any recourse for leaving a website up advertising something that isn't true. <br /><div><br /></div><div>I have also accepted that Columbia Ice will likely never be able to do the Western Canadian ice contracts of big grocery and gas chains who use buying power to get a better price. &nbsp;Just after we built our ice factory in Acheson we got a call from PetroCanada wanting to buy all our ice at 45 cents a bag which is below what it costs us to make the ice. &nbsp;Sometimes the dream, big contracts are too big. &nbsp;Sure it makes me grumpy seeing these gas stations and grocery stores selling competing products from a US supplier instead of a Canadian but we don't have ice factories across Western Canada to offer another option. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Today I was hungry so I went to Save-on-foods to get a sandwich and some milk. &nbsp;I never bought the sandwich and milk I had in my basket after seeing a freezer full of &nbsp;American owned &nbsp;Arctic Glacier with a picture of the province of Alberta with the Alberta crest on their freezer. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sqbz8JCuqN0/WJuDpW1lbfI/AAAAAAAAOck/MXmLsIiTnhAkAefCcCdI-kGt9srL0QvcgCLcB/s1600/america.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sqbz8JCuqN0/WJuDpW1lbfI/AAAAAAAAOck/MXmLsIiTnhAkAefCcCdI-kGt9srL0QvcgCLcB/s320/america.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div>Even though Arctic Glacier makes it's ice for Alberta in Calgary it isn't even remotely Alberta owned. &nbsp;Arctic Glacier use to be Canadian owned until it got hit with a massive <a href="https://www.law360.com/articles/236080/arctic-glacier-to-pay-12-5m-to-exit-ice-antitrust-mdl" target="_blank">12.5 million dollar fine for alleged price fixing in the US </a>, an issue it is <a href="http://www.abc15.com/news/let-joe-know/ice-refund-get-money-back-if-you-bought-ice-from-grocery-convenience-store" target="_blank">still dealing with today.</a>&nbsp; When Save-On-Foods or Arctic Glacier puts an Alberta crest on an outline of the Alberta province on it's freezer full of ice from the American owned ice company, it is misleading to the consumer. &nbsp;A lot of people in Alberta will go out of their way to buy products from Alberta owned companies. &nbsp;It makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside when you support local. When you see a company like Save-On-Foods and Arctic Glacier put a Alberta crest on their freezers it could make a person think Arctic Glacier is an Alberta owned company. <br /><br />I know I am biased working for the competition to Arctic Glacier if a flea is competition to an elephant. It is just frustrating seeing our competition try to be like Columbia Ice and be an Alberta owned company. &nbsp;So sad, too bad but there is only one ice company in Alberta that can wear the Alberta crest. &nbsp;The same crest it's Master Iceman wore in 2000 as he traveled across Canada in the Canadian Naval Gunrun representing the great people of Alberta. &nbsp;Columbia Ice, a proudly Alberta owned ice company. &nbsp;Owners live in St. Albert. <br /><br />Master Iceman</div></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/oS0PVhG1iv8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0Alberta, Canada53.9332706 -116.576503534.7664286 -157.8850975 73.1001126 -75.2679095http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/02/save-on-foods-ice-company-alberta.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-88068542016988277082017-01-24T10:44:00.000-07:002017-02-14T20:31:58.440-07:00iSocket will text me if power goes out or freezer gets too warm.Being the only full-time year round employee at Columbia Ice, a small ice company in Alberta I don't get to take too many vacations. The owners are older and have reduced mobility so it is a big ask to get them to handle deliveries while I am off. &nbsp;It was early in the new year of 2016 when I hopped a flight to visit my brother in Vancouver for 3 days over a weekend. &nbsp;In January I sit in the office waiting for the phone to ring collecting dust competing with the Maytag repairman to see who moves the least. &nbsp;Nobody wants ice when it is minus 20 out. &nbsp;It was the best time of year to have a vacation. &nbsp;I had done all the deliveries beforehand and the owners only had to deal with the "my ice maker broke" business. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t0BA9q8jWkM/WIeHNWvBT0I/AAAAAAAAObA/n3iZxW2NEc0pwe2A4haw7SOlwR3vT-wUQCKgB/s1600/2016-01-19%2B11.20.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t0BA9q8jWkM/WIeHNWvBT0I/AAAAAAAAObA/n3iZxW2NEc0pwe2A4haw7SOlwR3vT-wUQCKgB/s320/2016-01-19%2B11.20.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Power out melts ice</td></tr></tbody></table>I went on my trip, had an interesting time and came into the ice factory the following Monday afternoon. &nbsp;As part of my routine I check the freezer out and this is what I found.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MHvuj7u8Efw/WIeG5dsfo9I/AAAAAAAAOa8/jjcSHaShcyk7fx5LyTZ8qxhCy0qKudk-gCKgB/s1600/2016-01-19%2B11.07.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image of melted ice due to power going out." border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MHvuj7u8Efw/WIeG5dsfo9I/AAAAAAAAOa8/jjcSHaShcyk7fx5LyTZ8qxhCy0qKudk-gCKgB/s320/2016-01-19%2B11.07.29.jpg" title="no power outage alarm!!!" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Power outage melts ice</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;According to our Oscar, the refrigeration tech the condenser unit had a small leak, meaning the 404 coolant. &nbsp;The leak was so small it must of been there for awhile Oscar told me. &nbsp;It was dumb luck that it happened when I went on a 3 day vacation. &nbsp;To us at Columbia Ice it was par for course with our ice factory. &nbsp;More than once things had been wired wrong or not worked as they should of. &nbsp;Ice bin wired backwards, new conveyor motor blew when we plugged in, first condenser unit was warped when it arrived. &nbsp;A slow leak, that happened to reach the point where it tripped the freezer when I went on vacation, just fit with the pattern that we were cursed at <a href="http://columbiaice.ca/" target="_blank">Columbia Ice</a>.<br /><br /><br />Lucky for us we only had 20 pallets of ice in our freezer to melt. &nbsp;Unlucky for us it was 20 pallets of half melted ice in the middle winter. &nbsp;My first thought was to put the pallets in the walk ways and either let the ice melt or break the bags open. &nbsp;Problem with this was what to do with the water from all the ice. &nbsp;It was apparent pretty quickly my plan was flawed leaving me with the only option to fill up our small back area outside, in minus 20 weather with 20 pallets of half melted ice. &nbsp;I wasn't going to get rid of the ice till spring. &nbsp;It would sit there frozen, causing everyone who came buy to ask what is that ice doing out there and for me to to explain what had happened. &nbsp;A stupid leak while I had gone on vacation had cost us ~7000.00 worth of ice. <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BAFpkyyFEwg/WIeN-uo27oI/AAAAAAAAObM/fo5lQxd2dIQ-UTJiOkmmFBFxkZXv7MREQCKgB/s1600/2016-01-19%2B15.46.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BAFpkyyFEwg/WIeN-uo27oI/AAAAAAAAObM/fo5lQxd2dIQ-UTJiOkmmFBFxkZXv7MREQCKgB/s320/2016-01-19%2B15.46.04.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ice in hallway</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I know how to google so I got on google and started looking for a sensor to monitor our freezer remotely. &nbsp; I found a few options so I fired out a few emails. &nbsp;I don't like talking on the phone so I send emails to see who really wants my business. &nbsp;You would be surprised how many companies all over the world have not figured out how to email and the business they lose. &nbsp;Luckily a gentleman at <a href="http://www.isocket.eu/" target="_blank">isocket </a>responded to my email. <br /><br />They had a product which not only would send me a text when the freezer went above a certain temperature but also if the power went out in the building. &nbsp;This was a double bonus for us as in the summer during peak season we will run our ice makers 23 hours a day. &nbsp;At times we get lightening storms which will shut the power off in the factory, shutting our ice makers off. &nbsp;When the temperature is hot, ice flying out the door, the 6 pallets of ice ~2000.00 lost by ice makers not running due to an electrical storm can make us short of ice. &nbsp;It means having to push client orders back another day, paying extra to get ice out of cold storage on short notice if possible or giving a little now and the rest later doubling our delivery costs. <br /><br />It was a no brainer from a cost perspective. &nbsp;For a couple hundred dollars <a href="http://www.isocket.eu/" target="_blank">isocket, a tool created in Europe by some really smart folk</a> who will respond to email inquiries, will answer questions we had a simple, easy to install tool which saves us 1000's of dollars with a simple text. Best of all the isocket is extremely affordable. <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UtjdVR_saRE/WIeQ-O-P2AI/AAAAAAAAObY/scYX7MaDXcAjbbF_Q5WouCdvGYRK2WuUQCLcB/s1600/isocket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UtjdVR_saRE/WIeQ-O-P2AI/AAAAAAAAObY/scYX7MaDXcAjbbF_Q5WouCdvGYRK2WuUQCLcB/s320/isocket.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">isocket in action</td></tr></tbody></table>How cool is that?<br /><br />If you have an industrial freezer and need a remote temperature monitoring sensor I recommend isocket. <br /><br />In my set up I use an extension cord because putting an outlet on the freezer requires me to pay an electrician and money is tight. &nbsp;That said it would be trivial for any electrician to do. &nbsp;Drill a hole in freezer, push sensor through, fill with spray insulation.<br /><br />Of course with my luck when I went to help my brother move this year the freezer did not trip, no ice melted and thus isocket did not send me text telling me the freezer has stopped working. &nbsp;Finally some good luck but I keep waiting for isocket to save the day. &nbsp;I feel better knowing that now I can leave the ice plant and still be connected. &nbsp;Best of all I didn't need to install a distributed control system or PLC or some complicated crap to make this happen. &nbsp;isocket, a stupid simple solution to a costly problem.<br /><br /><br />The Master Iceman<br /><a href="http://columbiaice.ca/">http://columbiaice.ca</a><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/ernieiceman" target="_blank">@ernieiceman</a><br /><br /><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/2COdN2ScDUY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0Alberta, Canada53.9332706 -116.576503534.7664286 -157.8850975 73.1001126 -75.2679095http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/01/power-outage-temperature-sensor-isocket.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-91872146164648155422017-01-13T10:24:00.003-07:002017-01-13T10:59:41.170-07:00Bad reviews ONLINE will kill your Edmonton businessI am done offering unasked for advice to our clients about the web. &nbsp;Small business owners tend to be sensitive and think you are telling them how to run their business instead helping them succeed online. &nbsp;They see a poorly dressed iceman who can't match his colors, not someone who because he prefers dogs to people and spends too much time online. &nbsp;They don't see the guy who once got over 3 million views on youtube doing vlog videos. &nbsp;Who observed and then built 13 social cobwebs using the techniques of top tubers who make millions doing silly little videos. &nbsp;The guy who got pissed off at Yellowpages and learned to code to build website so he could say goodbye to the pages. &nbsp;Utilized time tested techniques recommended by multiple SEO blogs to do better in search. &nbsp;I have installed software in powerplants, trained engineers on how to use, even guided the development of a facebook app back in the day. When you are uncomfortable around people and in sales you have to figure out how to get those people to call you instead of you calling them. <br /><br />A website without SEO is like a billboard in the Arctic. Don't matter how nice that website is, nobody is going to see it. &nbsp;Reviews are a HUGE part of search engine optimization. &nbsp;When you look for a hotel to stay at, it is the bad reviews you read. &nbsp;They cost hotels and businesses alike in potential customers they push away. &nbsp;Even more costly is that google looks at them when determining where your website should show up in search. &nbsp;Good reviews push your website up in search giving you more sales leads and bad reviews push your reviews down meaning less sales leads. &nbsp;This isn't me making it up. &nbsp;Do some research and you will see I am right. &nbsp;I don't care if you don't want to hear about it. &nbsp;I don't care if it hurts your feelings or you don't like it. &nbsp;Reviews are so powerful online that you cannot afford to get bad ones and when you do RESPOND, RESPOND, RESPOND and do whatever you can to make things right. &nbsp;You swallow your pride, you suck it up and you kiss ass because every bad review costs MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. <br /><br />Social media is a HUGE part of search engine optimization. &nbsp;Don't outsource this if you are a small business. &nbsp;People like people. Show them pictures and videos of the people beneath the logo who make the business great. &nbsp;You are small, your logo doesn't mean anything, it is those who work at the businesses who have to be the stars. &nbsp;It is so easy to do now with smartphones that there is no excuse for not doing it. <br /><br />AHHHH.. this is why I could never handle working in the whole web design, SEO world. &nbsp;Big businesses know about this stuff as they hire the right people. &nbsp;Small business owners are too sensitive, too busy, think their opinion matters when it comes to the ways search engine work. &nbsp;Too often it is we want sales but only sales that happen in ways we are comfortable with like the phone. <br />Bad reviews and no real social media presence cost you sales. &nbsp;Take it seriously.<br /><br />If you like money, want more of it, then you will need to care about search. &nbsp;If not, then don't and keep pushing potential clients away. <br /><br />Master Iceman<div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=fN23eWtR2_0:IHzhCMXcfUM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=fN23eWtR2_0:IHzhCMXcfUM:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?i=fN23eWtR2_0:IHzhCMXcfUM:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=fN23eWtR2_0:IHzhCMXcfUM:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/fN23eWtR2_0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/01/bad-reviews-online-will-kill-your-brand.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-50579448083676966602017-01-01T15:49:00.003-07:002017-01-02T11:25:16.063-07:00Want a menu item named after your Alberta Distillery? | erniebcools <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A big challenge anything craft has is getting their name out there. &nbsp;You go to a liquor store these days and it is hard to distinguish one brand of liquor or beer from another. &nbsp;Usually people will just go with what they know so it is a battle to get people to try something new. &nbsp;Working for a small ice company who competes against Arctic Glacier this is a battle I know all too well. &nbsp;Go to most liquor stores, gas stations, grocery stores and you will find Arctic Glacier. &nbsp;99% of the ice in retail in Alberta is Arctic Glacier. &nbsp;The whole support local tends to fall on deaf ears. &nbsp;It is incredibly discouraging when you offer a lower price, a new ice merchandiser, ice made from a local ice company, not an American one and still make no headway. &nbsp;I can very much relate to how a small craft brewer or distiller feels as they fight the good battle to build a sustainable business. &nbsp;It is this reason that I want to highlight local craft distillers with the liquor side of erniebcools, Hawaiian shaved ice.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DZ0rG0Z1PI0/WGmHD5zlTXI/AAAAAAAAOYw/Cf-tIAD2ja4fTvxKZJtmvSFS9IAPaG6MQCLcB/s1600/idk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DZ0rG0Z1PI0/WGmHD5zlTXI/AAAAAAAAOYw/Cf-tIAD2ja4fTvxKZJtmvSFS9IAPaG6MQCLcB/s320/idk.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Shaved ice named after your distillery!</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I have come up with an idea which I know offers real value to local distilleries and one Alberta craft microbrewery. &nbsp;For a 100.00 contribution to my crowdsourcing campaign with ATB BoostR http://bit.ly/erniebcools I will use a local distillers liquor in one menu item and then name that item after the distillery. &nbsp;Shaved ice is versatile where it can be used with liquor and without depending on the event the shaved ice cart is being used at. &nbsp;I have a good relationship through my job as an iceman with the people who run the beer and October festivals in Alberta. &nbsp;The International Beerfest, Edmonton's largest according to their website has already agreed to let me debut erniebcools at the event. &nbsp;The other ABF beer and Octoberfests have contributed 100.00 to the cause and it is likely I will be able to get a booth at their events. &nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This means 1000's upon 1000's of people will see local distillers name on our menu. &nbsp;That is publicity and brand awareness you cannot buy anywhere in this world for a price as low as a 100.00. &nbsp;If that was the only thing I was offering as part of having a local distiller becoming part of the erniebcools story it would be a fantastic value. &nbsp;I am also offering to do a blog post on http://ernieiceman.com using keyword phrases that matter to craft distillers target demographic creating valuable back links, helping those distillers show up higher in search. &nbsp;The higher you are in search, the more unique page views your website gets and this should lead to more people inquiring about the liquor sold at Alberta distilleries. I have experience in search engine optimization so it will help you get noticed. &nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">If you run a craft distillery in Alberta, want some good PR at a fantastic value then go to ATB BoostR and contribute a 100.00 to <a href="http://bit.ly/erniebcools" target="_blank">erniebcools.</a> &nbsp;Use a branded email if possible as that email address will live forever on ATB BoostR's website. &nbsp;People will see that you helped build a local business and create new jobs in Alberta. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is an offer is only valid for local Alberta distilleries until the end of the crowdsourcing campaign which is January 19th. &nbsp;I am only going to have 4 custom liquor branded shaved ice menu items prominently displayed on the front of the cart and one one microbrewery menu item during liquor events making 5 in total a beautiful prime number. &nbsp;The menu items will be displayed on the shaved ice cart for one year's time with an option to renew each year for another 100.00. &nbsp;After January 19th if there are any spots left open I will open the floor up to any distiller in Canada. &nbsp;I want to be a vocal advocate for the best of Alberta but it is a partnership where Alberta Distillers help me out by helping make erniebcools crowdsourcing campaign a success. &nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">If that isn't enough to motivate you to pull out the company cc, contribute a 100.00 to <a href="http://bit.ly/erniebcools">http://bit.ly/erniebcools</a> then &nbsp;you may want to consider the fact I interact with the people behind all the festivals, talk to liquor store owners regularly and people running events with liquor. &nbsp;Having someone brag about how awesome the people at your distillery to those who retail the liquor is just good PR. &nbsp;The best part is I am not an expensive liquor rep who you have to pay a bunch of money to employ. &nbsp;I am just an iceman who as part of his day to day duties will get to brag to the people that could matter to your distillery helping get the word out.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Be a part of the story, be a part of making Alberta cool with erniebcools!!!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Master Iceman</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InDxmG9wM3w/WGmHZNRQl2I/AAAAAAAAOY0/DhF-MnsMguMNO9kfZPYrBByLAtAzG9zYQCLcB/s1600/master-iceman.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InDxmG9wM3w/WGmHZNRQl2I/AAAAAAAAOY0/DhF-MnsMguMNO9kfZPYrBByLAtAzG9zYQCLcB/s200/master-iceman.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=skbHdMGmxlU:zG2K36_e1YQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=skbHdMGmxlU:zG2K36_e1YQ:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?i=skbHdMGmxlU:zG2K36_e1YQ:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=skbHdMGmxlU:zG2K36_e1YQ:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/skbHdMGmxlU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2017/01/alberta-distillery.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-89911207161396287152016-12-28T13:35:00.000-07:002016-12-28T13:35:42.040-07:00Living wage ends the practice of tipping.My wife works in the restaurant business. &nbsp;She makes minimum wage plus tips. &nbsp;Even though she brings home more than 15 an hour with tips the government would put her wage at our current minimum wage in Alberta which is currently below the 15 an hour so called living wage. &nbsp; If what we hear in the media is to be believed those in the restaurant industry are going to have trouble affording the increase in wages. &nbsp;Logically you would surmise the easy answer would be just to increase prices however this could cause your restaurant to out price it's target demographic leading to a loss of sales. &nbsp;The counter argument is everyone else will have to raise there prices and thus the target demographic will return as the grass is not always greener elsewhere. <br /><br />The less obvious choice is to include the tips everyone gets from kitchen staff to the wait staff as part of their hourly wage. &nbsp;You are suppose to include your tips in your yearly taxes yet employers do not get the benefit of being able to say with tips our workers are making more than 15 an hour. &nbsp;Thus the only solution for those restaurant owners who do not want to raise their prices is to hard wire tips into the bill and include them in worker's paychecks. &nbsp;Meaning someone like my wife who was making 12 an hour plus 8 an hour in tips would be seen as making 20.00 an hour. &nbsp;The restaurant does not have to raise it's prices as the change to tips being hardwired into the bill more accurately reflects what people are paid. <br /><br />To those who argue that tips are a variable that changes I say hogwash. &nbsp;We are Canadian and non-confrontational by nature. &nbsp;Even when food and service sucks we leave a tip to avoid having to deal with the consequence of not tipping or complaining about food/service. &nbsp;In many ways we are taught to leave a bad review, or shame on social media instead of directly talking to someone. &nbsp;On the flip side those who want tips to motivate them to work hard get a good life lesson. &nbsp;Most jobs in life have the expectation you will work hard for a fair wage. &nbsp;Not getting a handout at the end is part of life and not an excuse to give less excellence in service. &nbsp;There are other ways to keep people motivated than 5.00 at the end of a meal which ends up being 2.00 after you tip out kitchen staff. &nbsp;With the new living wage reality coming to Alberta, restaurant owners don't really have a choice as people won't always pay more. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FBH2v7fnKyw/WGQeze7vNPI/AAAAAAAAOYM/SxklqZdBf-QVuOEuDA3iTMPKDPygw8NAQCLcB/s1600/fruit-icecream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FBH2v7fnKyw/WGQeze7vNPI/AAAAAAAAOYM/SxklqZdBf-QVuOEuDA3iTMPKDPygw8NAQCLcB/s200/fruit-icecream.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>On a personal level this brings me to shaved ice and how much am I going to pay people to bring the cool to the people of Alberta. &nbsp; You might think I would pay a student whatever the current minimum wage to work. &nbsp;I really want to have all the wages I pay at 15 an hours ahead of it having to be 15 an hour as I believe by giving employees a better wage you get better workers as they can afford to eat. &nbsp;By eating you get the energy you need to work hard. &nbsp;There is also an element of pride that comes from getting paid a living wage. &nbsp;Instead of seeing all your money go to rent, you have enough to enjoy a movie with friends, thus living a more enjoyable life. &nbsp;Shaved ice requires happy people to make it as it is one of those bright, colorful and fun winter treats on a hot summer's day. &nbsp;If you haven't contributed to my shaved ice crowdsourcing campaign or even heard of it you better hurry. &nbsp;Don't miss your chance to be a part of the erniebcools story. &nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/erniebcools" target="_blank">Click here to go to ATB BoostR and help keep Alberta COOL!!!</a><br /><br />Master Iceman<div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=mhh5WBYhxDE:m_gMozyw8ps:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=mhh5WBYhxDE:m_gMozyw8ps:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?i=mhh5WBYhxDE:m_gMozyw8ps:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=mhh5WBYhxDE:m_gMozyw8ps:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/mhh5WBYhxDE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2016/12/living-wage-ends-practice-of-tipping.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-17193676050474420552016-12-27T20:08:00.000-07:002016-12-27T20:13:34.253-07:00Nobody in Edmonton knows what Hawaiian Shaved Ice is.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jJNH6dUa4l8/WGMrY63kB_I/AAAAAAAAOX0/xeEUkPSppdUQGmqJvkPNwfD2wuNV_MWfQCLcB/s1600/shaved-ice-edmonton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jJNH6dUa4l8/WGMrY63kB_I/AAAAAAAAOX0/xeEUkPSppdUQGmqJvkPNwfD2wuNV_MWfQCLcB/s1600/shaved-ice-edmonton.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>bring the cool to Alberta</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Shaved ice, Hawaiian shaved ice, blank stairs is what you get from most folk I have talked to in Alberta, mostly Edmonton. &nbsp;How do you describe without experiencing the power of ice giving our favorite flavors and textures an added kick of coolness. &nbsp;CBC writes about sausage, salami, some sort of luncheon meat but not shaved ice cause they don't know what shaved ice is. &nbsp;It is snow you can make into a snowball which unlike snow cones holds the flavor of the syrups you poor on top. &nbsp;A snow cone the fun is in the bottom. &nbsp;Shaved ice the bottom can be ice cream, fruit, candy and even sweet beans.. don't ask. My wife is Filipino and I will never understand her pallet. &nbsp;People come from different places in the world and like different flavors. &nbsp;Shaved ice is universal except in Canada where their use to be more snow than sun. <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zlh2Pon_Uww/WGMrtsT4_kI/AAAAAAAAOX4/yTY8LKNKVu0Sha1Fy055AFsY4Vldxsa-wCLcB/s1600/flavours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zlh2Pon_Uww/WGMrtsT4_kI/AAAAAAAAOX4/yTY8LKNKVu0Sha1Fy055AFsY4Vldxsa-wCLcB/s200/flavours.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>BEER says YES</b></td></tr></tbody></table>I know one of the former owners of Polar Ice before Arctic bought the company. &nbsp;He can't work in the ice industry but is a good guy. &nbsp;Big, strong, hard worker and genuinely wants his clients to succeed. &nbsp;I wanted to see if he would be interested to contributing to my shaved ice campaign as Hawaiian shaved ice does not compete with Arctic. &nbsp;Nope, the has not heard of shaved ice as in the ice cream wrapped in a blanket of snowball snow drizzled in sweetness. &nbsp;I want to say fish markets use shaved ice and thus he likely would of gotten calls about it when he was in the industry. &nbsp;Sadly the dessert, the winter treat on a hot summers day which works with liquor is named poorly. &nbsp;The good name was stolen from snow cones which uses crushed ice. <br /><br />Bahhhh...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FBwDmiBRV7E/WGMr-pBe68I/AAAAAAAAOX8/6GvP-jnYdSccHRWfbAivMcl41pgIKYBuQCLcB/s1600/erniebcools2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FBwDmiBRV7E/WGMr-pBe68I/AAAAAAAAOX8/6GvP-jnYdSccHRWfbAivMcl41pgIKYBuQCLcB/s200/erniebcools2.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Just go to my shaved ice crowdsourcing campaign. &nbsp;If Dave Mowat the CEO of ATB wants to help make Alberta cooler so should you. &nbsp;If the beer as in the beer festivals wants the shaved ice then isn't it a good idea for you to follow suit. &nbsp;Go to <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><a href="http://bit.ly/erniebcools" target="_blank">ATB BoostR's and contribute to erniebcools now</a>.</b>. </span>The beer has spoken!!!<br /><br />The Master Iceman<br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DW1mqpil-Bo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=VWL1siZKt8Q:CQvnpjYX69Q:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=VWL1siZKt8Q:CQvnpjYX69Q:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?i=VWL1siZKt8Q:CQvnpjYX69Q:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=VWL1siZKt8Q:CQvnpjYX69Q:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/VWL1siZKt8Q" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0Edmonton, AB, Canada53.544389 -113.4909266999999953.2425465 -114.1363737 53.8462315 -112.84547969999998http://www.ernieiceman.com/2016/12/beer-says-yes-to-shaved-ice.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-26167740253663788202016-12-22T12:23:00.000-07:002016-12-27T20:11:42.737-07:00Beer has spoken and it wants shaved iceCrowdsourcing is about the story of a group of people coming together to build or create something new. &nbsp;In our case at Columbia Ice, the new is a shaved ice concession cart, aka ice cream wrapped in a blanket of snow drizzled in sweetness. &nbsp;Originally I had hoped to get the festivals that make our city great to contribute to erniebcools. &nbsp;I wanted to use their contribution as an introduction to how much these events and festivals do for our city. &nbsp;We live in a time when festival costs are going up and the not-for-profits behind them need more support from our city council. &nbsp;Pleading with the city has not worked, at least based on news stories I have read so I figured a nice, positive story about festivals coming together to build a small alberta business might apply pressure through a positive story. <br /><div><br /></div><div>Sadly xmas is not a good time to try to communicate with a lot of festivals. &nbsp; Really not a good time to run a crowdsourcing campaign as Santa is far more exciting than shaved ice. &nbsp;Even those you get a hold of are so stressed over money it is hard to get them to be open to an outside the box idea like crowdsourcing a shaved ice cart even though they get more than the cost of the reward in shaved ice. &nbsp;Just like love is about timing and circumstance, so too is crowdsourcing so my grand idea of having festivals build erniebcools in the winter is bad timing. &nbsp;I had to do my crowdsourcing campaign in the winter so I have time to build the shaved ice concession cart. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>In life there are always exceptions to every rule... and the example is the good folk behind the Alberta Beer Festivals(ABF) in Edmonton, Calgary and Banff. &nbsp; ABF also puts on two fantastic Octoberfests which make a pretty boring month a little more fun. &nbsp;When I sent an email to Trevor at ABF he went onto ATB BoostR <a href="http://bit.ly/erniebcool">http://bit.ly/erniebcool</a>s and pre-bought 120.00 worth of ice for a 100.00. &nbsp;Just for supporting our crowdsourcing campaign Alberta Beer Festivals come out ahead and get to be a part of job creation in Edmonton. &nbsp;That is pretty awesome if you ask me which would make sense if you have ever met the ABF agents who are pretty awesome people. &nbsp;Next time you get a chance to enjoy a beer festival or octoberfest in Alberta know the money you spend is going to people who show their affection to the great province of Alberta through the action of helping others succeed like Columbia Ice and erniebcools. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IsbnALsMGMo" width="560"></iframe> <br /><br />The Master Iceman<div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=5iIRmP25rTA:xQJzti0Flwo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=5iIRmP25rTA:xQJzti0Flwo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?i=5iIRmP25rTA:xQJzti0Flwo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=5iIRmP25rTA:xQJzti0Flwo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/5iIRmP25rTA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0Alberta, Canada53.9332706 -116.576503534.7664286 -157.8850975 73.1001126 -75.2679095http://www.ernieiceman.com/2016/12/beer-has-spoken-and-it-wants-shaved-ice.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-76393263604891934122016-12-21T21:46:00.000-07:002016-12-21T21:46:57.255-07:00How war in the middle east affects Edmonton Festivals.Laughable at first thought to think western imperialism in the middle east would have consequences at home here in Edmonton at festivals we love. &nbsp;Every large grouping of people, from festivals to sporting events has had to increase the amount they spend on security as all the wrong person needs is a smartphone to attract the right type of disenchanted individual. &nbsp;Born from media carefully put together using the extreme images, words and ideologies to give hope to one who has none. &nbsp;In God's name kill and you shall be rewarded with whatever.. My response would be no, I am going to hell, more ice sales, however when I was younger and looked to religion, I can understand how desperation makes bad men out of moral. &nbsp;It is hard to find meaning in a world that is so confusing. &nbsp;For those who do not fit, don't have that one connection the voices of the shadows can be strong in making seemingly intelligent people stupid. &nbsp; <br /><br />Those who run Heritage days, Taste of Edmonton, Fringe and others all have to worry about every person with a bag, bottle of water, truck I guess now. &nbsp;This means taking all reasonable precautions which starts with more police onsite. &nbsp;Ask our Police Chief and he will tell you it is expensive putting cops on the street. &nbsp;Someone has to pay for it and from what I can tell reading the news is there is not enough money for cops as is. &nbsp;If festivals need security then they will have to pay for it themselves even though the reason festivals need more security is no fault of their own. &nbsp;It is a different world when a truck and a gas pedal become death's tool. &nbsp;What is a festival to do? &nbsp;What happens when it is no longer financially viable to run a Heritage days or Taste of Edmonton? &nbsp;Where is the money going to come from to make up the difference between what is brought in and what goes out? <br /><br />Price of most stuff at festivals is already pretty high. &nbsp;Vendors don't get rich and the not for profit behind the scenes can only ask for so much. &nbsp; Logically the city would have a budget for events, festivals and the like. &nbsp;Some of this money is used to help support local, born in Edmonton, come to expect year after year, part of the fabric of the city festivals we become quite attached to and then the oddball events like Red Bull Crashed Ice, Triathlon festival... which actually sounds fun. &nbsp;You drink for the half a day a triathlon takes. &nbsp;The real competition really is how many allycat golds can you drink from the gun to the first finisher. &nbsp;The issue that the people behind the born in Edmonton events have is essentially how much of the pie is going to the out of town, one time events like that extreme biking event last summer. &nbsp;It just does not make sense in any meaningful way to take a habitat away from ducks and geese, making it into a pool and then back to a habitat. &nbsp;Some want a beach showing once again how wrong the way we see the world has become to nature. &nbsp;Instead of learning to peacefully co-exist we take over more of there territory. &nbsp;I loved watching geese at hawrelak park. &nbsp;I loved walking across the bridge with my dogs to a really awesome dog park. <br /><br />The notion you could use volunteers to manage the traffic at heritage days is asinine. &nbsp;You want to see the best of edmonton, then see how fast, how efficient the EPS and ETS work together to get everyone out of the park fast and safe. &nbsp;I want a cop with a gun at the entrance to Hawrelak park not a volunteer. &nbsp;Nobody in Germany thought in my country, like nobody in France, or anywhere else in the west where stupid happened. &nbsp;Terrorism shatters this reality we are safe and secure. &nbsp;Smart folk, the lucky or crazy few who take on dealing with the crazy musicians, small business owners, people of every nationality and even a crazy iceman or two to put on Blues, Rock Fest, Interstellar along with the big fish Heritage Days and Taste of Edmonton would be devastated if anything happened at their festivals. &nbsp;This is Alberta where we think ahead, plan for the unexpected and that includes more real cops in plain clothes and uniform. Someone has to pay for this. &nbsp;It is only reasonable that some would come from all parties involved. <br /><br />The city of Edmonton needs to be more of an active partner in covering the increase security costs. &nbsp;If this means investing less money in bringing to Edmonton the one time are nice but can't even remember the name events, so be it. &nbsp;I know the crazy few we elect to run our city want to make a name for themselves. &nbsp;Photo ops, being able to say I brought yada, yada, yada to Edmonton being important for reelection. &nbsp;Make a name for yourself by having not for profits praise you instead of ask suppliers to cut prices pushing out the small business owner, leaving the same, boring, big brand crap that is already shoved down our throats. <br /><br />Master Iceman<br />Checkout my crowdsourcing campaign http://bit.ly/erniebcools<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZQBO_gPoho <br /><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=gQiBg9SiJEg:fzuSTEsYy7g:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=gQiBg9SiJEg:fzuSTEsYy7g:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?i=gQiBg9SiJEg:fzuSTEsYy7g:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=gQiBg9SiJEg:fzuSTEsYy7g:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/gQiBg9SiJEg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0Edmonton, AB, Canada53.544389 -113.4909266999999953.2425465 -114.1363737 53.8462315 -112.84547969999998http://www.ernieiceman.com/2016/12/war-in-middle-east-affects-edmonton-festivals.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-83971296057018594832016-12-14T15:20:00.001-07:002016-12-15T16:52:28.994-07:00I am running a crowdsourcing campaign to bring shaved ice to Alberta.I get bored and so upon occasion I google. &nbsp;When I google I find something like shaved ice which if we had here at Edmonton Festivals would increase ice sales. &nbsp;I could wait for someone else to do it but to often people who want the local community to support them do not support the local community back by supporting local business. &nbsp;I have seen that happen enough to know that if I really wanted to increase ice sales I would have to bring shaved ice, ice cream wrapped in a blanket of flavored snow to Edmonton myself. &nbsp;The only problem is I do not have the funds to build a shaved ice concession cart so I went on ATB BoostR and now I am crowdsourcing the shave ice cart. <br /><br />So far in a week and 3 days I have raised over a 1000.00. &nbsp;Kind of scary actually thinking about being successful... With friends, family and colleagues contributing to shaved ice I have a responsibility to deliver... I am also a little excited because shaved ice allows for creativity in that you can create whatever variations you can imagine.<br /><br />If you happen to be a stranger, do not know me and want to be part of the erniebcools story http://bit.ly/erniebcools &nbsp;Any help would be most appreciated. <br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tZQBO_gPoho" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Stay COOL!<br /><br />The Iceman<div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=atIrtjfrD2A:XfINBCA936o:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=atIrtjfrD2A:XfINBCA936o:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?i=atIrtjfrD2A:XfINBCA936o:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=atIrtjfrD2A:XfINBCA936o:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/atIrtjfrD2A" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2016/12/columbia-ice-is-running-crowdsourcing.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-48089309255161742252016-12-01T13:23:00.001-07:002016-12-01T21:19:51.393-07:00Tzeporah Berman gives oil sands advisory board legitimacy. Unlike Brian Jean of the Wildrose and Jason Kenny of the Progressive Conservatives, I appreciate different perspectives on the oil advisory board in Alberta. &nbsp;There are a great deal of Canadians who care a whole lot about the environment and do believe unfettered capitalism is reckless without taking into account the effect that capitalism will have on the environment. &nbsp;We only have one world and if we don't practice better stewardship than we won't even have that. &nbsp;Pipelines sound great but for many of us there is a moment of pause needed to consider the long-term environmental consequences of pipelines. &nbsp;Too often mankind has a habit of doing first and then realizing later there were adverse consequences. <br /><br />Jason Kenny and Brian Jean in their single-minded focus on job creation are acting as if climate change is a myth that we do not need to deal with and thus they do not speak to people like me who are leaning to supporting pipelines if and only if environmental issues are taken into account. &nbsp;For an oil advisory board to seem legitimate and garner my support, a person like Tzeporah Berman is needed. &nbsp;If the PC's were in power, based on Alberta's history, I would expect an oil advisory board to be full of oil execs. &nbsp;People who champion oil, enviromental issues be dammed. &nbsp;Having a contrarian opinion gives me comfort as I know the large group of Canadians who are fighting for greener Canada will have a voice. &nbsp;This contrary voice will counter the oil, oil, oil enviroment be dammed voice that those who share ideological leanings of a Brian Jean or Jason Kenny seem to have. &nbsp;Call Tzeporah a check and balance giving our enviroment a voice. &nbsp;I don't have to agree with her but I know she will at least stand up for mother nature even in the face criticism from those who need everyone to think and act alike. &nbsp;I like the fact that some of the NDP would logically not be a 100% behind pipelines because not all Albertans or Canadians are a 100% behind pipelines. &nbsp;Different perspectives provide a check and balance. <br /><br />I don't want to live in a Canada where everyone thinks, acts, talk and looks alike. &nbsp;I love our diversity of religion, races, cultures and perspectives. &nbsp;It is only through the converging of diffferent opinions we find common ground in the middle as we seem to have in regards to pipelines. &nbsp;Yes, we have a carbon tax to push industry to be greener but the reward is economic investment in the creation of pipelines giving us better access to markets who give us a better price on oil. &nbsp;The only reason Justin Trudeau and Rachel Notely were able to achieve the possibility of pipelines was because they represented the diverse perspectives of all Canadians. &nbsp;When it comes to pipelines you need the people on the fence to show support. &nbsp;Those who are for pipelines are already on board and represented in Alberta. &nbsp;Those who have felt their voice muzzled, opinions dimissed, on the side of the enviroment, have never felt like they were represented in govt committees around oil, need the contrarian. &nbsp;For this group of Canadians, growing larger and larger in numbers daily as the effects of Global Warming become more obvious an enviroment champion is needed to get pipelines built without screwing mother nature in the process. &nbsp;Take Tzeporah off the oil advisory board and that group who cares about the enviroment, will see the board as just another tool for the oil industry to push their agenda through. <br /><br />So please, before you regurgitate what talking bobbleheads in suits say ask yourself if you are the target demographic &nbsp;Notely and Trudeau have to get off the fence about pipelines onto the side of &nbsp;those who support pipelines if they are to get built. A big reason Harper and previous PC gov'ts failed to garner support for their pipelines is they muzzled or simply did not give a voice to those who believed differently. &nbsp;Thus in Alberta and Canada if you want pipelines then you want Tzeporah Berman on the oil advisory board of Alberta. &nbsp;If you are against pipelines like Jason Kenny or Brian Jean keep asking for Tzeporah to resign because if she does resign then the oil advisory board becomes nothing more than a machivellian govt run board giving the illusion they care about the enviroment allianating those on the fence about pipelines.<br /><br />The Iceman<div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=GwLpjfd1L1Y:aJiGVrfmpzg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=GwLpjfd1L1Y:aJiGVrfmpzg:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?i=GwLpjfd1L1Y:aJiGVrfmpzg:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?a=GwLpjfd1L1Y:aJiGVrfmpzg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TalkingToIce?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/GwLpjfd1L1Y" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2016/12/tzeporah-berman-gives-oilsands-advisory.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-48130804970392761712016-10-12T15:31:00.003-06:002016-10-12T15:31:20.925-06:00Edmonton baker uses packaged ice in bread making.When you think of Edmonton and Ice do you think bread? &nbsp;I certainly would of never of considered ice a vital ingredient when it comes to making bread and pastries. &nbsp;Of course, I didn't know they used ice to make concrete harder till I started working at Columbia Ice. &nbsp;I shouldn't be surprised they use ice in the wonderful world of baking. &nbsp;I am not entirely sure why some bakeries use packaged ice in their processes but from what I can tell by googling there are two reasons. <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qNlac19NyDk/V_6pYd1EmnI/AAAAAAAAORg/Tq8e7SM2vCY3-igGtdBMJgsYBuLbrjhNQCLcB/s1600/edmonton-bakery-ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qNlac19NyDk/V_6pYd1EmnI/AAAAAAAAORg/Tq8e7SM2vCY3-igGtdBMJgsYBuLbrjhNQCLcB/s1600/edmonton-bakery-ice.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Edmonton ice for Edmonton bread</b></td></tr></tbody></table>The first is ice cold water is used to slow the fermentation&nbsp;process allowing some sort of acids to work, giving the bread more flavor. &nbsp;The second is when dealing with lard in pie crusts you don't want the lard to melt. &nbsp;According to Ernie, this gives the crust good flakiness. &nbsp;I have never actually attempted to make pie crust, a pie or even bread so I will take his&nbsp;word on it. <br /><br />Learning Edmonton ice is used in baking is one thing, trying to find the right type of bakery is another when it comes to trying to sell ice. &nbsp;As an iceman working at an Edmonton ice company looking for new clients, you want to find the high volume baker that uses enough ice to make a delivery worthwhile and doesn't have an ice machine. &nbsp;Sadly this has not been easy as the bakeries I have contacted in the past either have an ice maker or don't make the right types of breads, pie crusts and/or pizza crust where they need ice. <br /><br />But I am alive and lots of people are not alive. I have a home and don't have to worry about bombs being dropped on it. &nbsp;I have dogs that don't try to eat me.... so I am feeling optimistic. &nbsp;I am going to write this snazzy blog post. &nbsp;Some Edmonton baker will read the post, call 780-960-7161 and say SANDRA I need ice to make the bread flavorful. I need ice to make flaky crusts on pie, &nbsp;I need ice, someone hit me over the head with a bat... might of been the Master Iceman of Columbia Ice trying to increase ice sales...<br /><br />Thank you for listening ice.. most nice of you..<br /><br />Master Iceman<div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/l2DZ08Te4M8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com1http://www.ernieiceman.com/2016/10/edmonton-baker-uses-packaged-ice-in.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-33119827176691267052016-07-15T15:22:00.002-06:002016-07-15T15:22:12.893-06:00Every time in rains there is an iceman crying. Being an iceman in Alberta can be depressing. &nbsp;You turn on the news, read a digital paper and everyone is talking about global warming. &nbsp;The one business which is global warming friendly should be ice. &nbsp;As the world warms more people need to cool themselves with ice cold water or beer. &nbsp;Not in yeg aka Edmonton or Calgary where the rain keeps on falling. &nbsp;I am not exactly sure where this rain comes from as we live in the prairies. &nbsp;the rain does not stay long. &nbsp;It will be plus 25, sunny, a beautiful day and then bam the rain hits. &nbsp; With rain comes the cancellation of events, people do not go camping and ice sales drop, drop, drop. &nbsp;This makes me cry. &nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>First it was the low price of oil meaning no worker ice and now unpredictable weather killing ice sales. &nbsp; Maybe I need to get into the umbrella business. &nbsp;At Columbia Ice we make ice to keep beer cold and umbrellas to keep you dry. &nbsp;If only I could pay workers 10 cents an hour like they do at sweatshops where umbrellas are made.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Would you like a job making umbrellas for 10 cents an hour? &nbsp;Hahaha.. this is a joke btw. &nbsp;I wouldn't actually pay anyone 10 cents. &nbsp;I pay a living wage even for students who are mostly useless. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>They call me... I call me</div><div><br /></div><div>the master iceman.</div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/VAZYFFQWXKM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2016/07/every-time-in-rains-there-is-iceman.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921409435436657569.post-45596624832581608382016-07-15T08:38:00.001-06:002016-07-15T08:38:10.146-06:00Get off your mobile phone and get to workEven though you tell employees to get off their phone in the ice factory, you almost have to be a tyrant to get them to listen. &nbsp;Whether it be addiction or just not caring about the dangers around them young folk have no idea how unemployable they are with their phones on them. &nbsp;I probably have to lock phones up if I want people to respect the condition of no phones on the ice floor. &nbsp;I promise you those I see on the phone won't be back next year. &nbsp;If I tell you something once, twice and on the third time mental note, does not listen to instructions, will not get another summer job with us. <br /><br />I was so gunhoe this year, going to prove everybody wrong, students can work hard.. I was wrong, students for the most part our nearly completely useless. &nbsp;You can't send them to do a job if you expect it to be done right. &nbsp;Instead you will get the least amount of work possible or what I call lip service work. &nbsp;A student will not go above and beyond as they take no pride in their work. &nbsp;My mechanic said he could hire a student, get the student to sweep the floor, but he would have to go after the student to sweep the floor correctly. &nbsp;The other day I had a student sweep the back area. &nbsp;There was a piece of wood that needed to be moved to get the sawdust under it's edge. &nbsp;Student sweeps around the wood, does not move it. <br /><br />When I have to find something for a student to do the question goes through my mind what can this student do that is right? <br /><br />Absolutely nothing..<br /><br />Next year it will be different. &nbsp;I am going to see a lawyer and each student will have to sign a phone waver stating that if they are injured or hurt in my warehouse while on their phone the company is not liable, nor is WCB. &nbsp;Furthermore I, the employer can sue the student for being on the phone in the warehouse when they were explicitly told not to be on the phone. &nbsp;It probably isn't legal to do this..<br /><br />I guess the asshole will come out next year where I simply fire people for being on the phone. <br /><br />Mobile phones make young people dangerous and nearly useless. &nbsp;I won't hire students again. &nbsp;Tired of stupid, can't listen to instructions, don't know how to work with any purpose, lulligag around like a piece of waste flesh. <br /><br />Master Iceman<div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkingToIce/~4/unXdNFw6wiI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16034447217673041836noreply@blogger.com0http://www.ernieiceman.com/2016/07/get-off-your-mobile-phone-and-get-to.html